Following UNIJOS VC’s example

There was a time students did not need to visit institutions they applied to for information about their admission status. They checked at the post office or the admission letters came to them at home. They did not need to know anybody to be admitted. They only had to satisfy the institution’s admission requirements – including making the cut-off marks and having the right ‘O’ Level combinations for the course they applied for.

We all know the story is not the same today. Any candidate who sits at home expecting admission to come just like that, is like one praying for Manna to fall from heaven like it did in the time of Moses.

But one Vice-Chancellor has declared that once again, admissions will be like that in his institution. He is Prof Hayward Babale Mafuyai of the University of Jos. He has warned people to stop putting pressure on him to admit by request. He even said his own son would not be admitted if he does not pass.

Wow! Such noble declarations; but how hard to carry through! I do not doubt Mafuyai’s resolution. I admire his courage but I can imagine the pressure he would be under to bend a little to satisfy a superior from Abuja, a politician in his state, a colleague, former classmate, member of his club, or a member of his own family.

Since he has said he would not change the rules to admit his own son let us hope no other influence can be stronger than that.

More importantly, however, is the need for other school administrators to make similar resolves. Just last week, this columnist admitted for the umpteenth time that our tertiary institutions cannot accommodate those that desire higher education. But while this is sacrosanct for now, are all those admitted selected on merit to occupy each precious space? To what extent is the admission process based on merit or compromised by influence from high places or the greed of admission officers and other cadres of workers? Every institution, especially public-owned, where the competition for spaces is stiffer, should try and answer these questions as honestly as possible. If a large percentage of those admitted are accepted by request, then such institutions need to review their admissions policy and procedures.

If Mafuyai succeeds in instituting a transparent admissions process, then those who try to enter the University of Jos and fail can be consoled that everyone selected was better one way or the other. In time, the university would attract the best of brains as serious minded students would work towards getting into the university. High quality students would mean the university would have less problems with poor performance, truancy, and other consequences of ‘unseriousness’ like rowdiness, cultism, students’ unrest, and unbridled partying.

In time, once the society notices the unique qualities of its students, the university may begin to enjoy some goodwill from individuals, associations, NGOs and corporate organisations. While others would need to wait for government subvention to embark on capital projects, the university may find that it has a waiting list of people waiting to do some good to associate with it. When this happens, then we may be on our way to getting our own Harvard. I hope this picture is not too good to be true.